Representatives of 102 First Nations, from across British Columbia, voiced their support for the transition of open-net pen fish farms out of BC waters.

 The First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance hosted a press conference in Vancouver on Tuesday April 5, 2022.

Many of the attendees were on ZOOM.

“We have to be mindful of the migratory nature of salmon, and so given that reality, the DFO and the Crown must consider all First Nations that the salmon pass. Site specific consultation in one traditional territory is not good enough. The impacts from fish farms are known and farms have far reaching infringement on Aboriginal rights, up and down all the major water and river systems of British Columbia,” explained Chief Bob Chamberlain, of the Kwikwasutinuxw Haxwa’mis (one of the ‘Broughton Nations’), and Chair of the First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance, at a virtual/in-person press conference in Vancouver. 

“We want to ensure that the minister is clear about the First Nations food security needs, constitutionally protected Aboriginal rights, and Supreme Court of Canada law, which gives the minister direction in terms of allocation. We also want to be clear that, in our opinion, the impacts that are occurring to wild salmon is one of the major contributors to the historical low returns we’ve seen across British Columbia for the past number of years – the lowest returns in all of history. Given that reality, it is time that every measure is taken to protect wild salmon.”

Chief Don Svanvik of the ‘Namgis First Nation (another of the ‘Broughton Nations’) said, “We just lost the chief in this past week and one of the things he said was, we need to speak for the salmon. That’s what we’re doing here today. Our salmon are on the verge of extinction. It’s hard to believe that there are systems now in our coast that  once flourished with salmon that have no salmon and other systems  are down to single digit percentages of what they once were.” 

“Salmon, wild salmon, (are) intrinsic to our way of life over the millennia. The Namgis creation story speaks of the very backbone of our being  is our river and that for the rest of the time, you would have salmon.”

“We talk about what we have to do. There are many impacts on the wild salmon. The impact that we can affect the quickest and efficiently and effectively is open net fish farms. We need to transition these to land. It’s that simple. It’s time to act.” 

Tyrone McNeil, President of the Sto:lo Tribal Council, added, “I started fishing just over 50 years ago. The first twenty-five years, anybody in industry got everything they wanted – First Nations, commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen – because there was an abundance of salmon. Then about 25 years ago, with the introduction of the first fish farms, we started seeing the numbers going down.”

He said the Stalo people haven’t caught a sockeye for three years and they only caught a handful of chinook.

“I’m compelled to send out a warning to Premier Horgan, to send out a warning to Minister Murray, not to pick a handful of First Nations on the coast against a hundred plus First Nations that are so reliant on the salmon stocks that go by that marine space,” said McNeil.

He encouraged the federal and provincial governments to work with the First Nations that are currently partnering with the open net fish farm industry ‘because they need an economy, they need jobs.”

McNeil added, “I encourage you premier, to take into account that the declaration of rights of Indigenous Peoples Act applies to all of us – not just the small handful of First Nations that are partnering with the fishing industry on the coast. We all need to be engaged.” 

Those last statements referred to the First Nations for Finfish Stewardship‘s proclamation in support of the fish farm industry two weeks ago. While they claimed to be speaking on behalf of 17 nations (including the two Broughton Nations whose chiefs speak against fish farms at the top of this page), this number has since been shown to be much smaller. 

Four nations from the Discovery Islands (the Klahoose, Homalco, Tla’amin and K’omox First Nations) are among the 102 that have signed a joint letter calling for a transition of open-net pen fish farms out of BC waters.

Two of these, the Klahoose and K’omox, were also named among the 17 nations allegedly supporting open net salmon farming. Their chiefs said otherwise.

There are a number of other nations in that list of 17 whose names do not appear to belong there.

At the press conference in Vancouver, Chief James Hobart, of Spuzzum First Nation, warned the government that they are going to feel a lot more pressure to do the right thing.

Chief Darrel Bob of the Xaxli’p said First Nations have a responsibility to bring back the salmon”

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs said, “Our grandchildren have a birthright to wild salmon and we can’t jeopardize that because of industry profiteering. I have many grandchildren,  nieces and nephews. My niece said ‘we are tired of being listened to but never heard’ from.”

McNeil pointed out that First Nations are not the only people dependent on wild salmon. So are commercial and recreational fishermen.

“I encourage you Premier, to work with us to rebuild those wild salmon stocks. I encourage the Minister to continue taking brave decisions, to stand up, to not bow to the lobby efforts of the Marine open net pen fishing industry. We know they’re a  powerful lobby group Minister. I encourage you to stand strong, there is too much at stake for all of us.” he said.

Top photo credit: Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. Chiefs Tyrone McNeil, President of the Sto:lo Tribal Council, Chief Chief Darrel Bob of Xaxli’p First Nations and three camera people listen while Chief James Hobart of Spuzzum First Nation speaks over ZOOM

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